5x5: The First Impact

5x5 Night took place for the first time on Feb. 24 at the GRAM. Attendance far exceeded Pomegranate Studio's expectations; they were hoping for 100, and got over 200. The five presenters had been culled from approximately 270 submissions, far more than hoped for. Reserve's second floor was packed with curious attendees, anxiously anticipating the distribution of the prize money. Sommelier Allie Merrick never lost her cool while helping her staff to put a complimentary glass of Frisk Prickly Riesling Muscat in each attendee's hand as they debated the ideas.

The ideas were varied -- a locally sourced, secret restaurant, a student workshop for re-purposing and designing clothes, a green tomato cage, upside down movies and an app for a Grand Rapids walking tour. Each contender presented quickly, and the program moved rapidly. Following the presentations, judges (as well as attendees via Twitter) were able to ask questions and discuss the ideas.

Like a grade school soccer match, everyone was a winner. The underground restaurant, Fire & Knife Supper Club, received $2000 of the total available prize money, while the other four ideas were each awarded $750.  

"Last night was really about making sure the winner would get a definite $2000 -- definitely a good injection of capital to get the project kickstarted," Pomegranate Studio's Bill Holsinger-Robinson says. "All of the ideas were actually really good, and we wanted to make sure that they got a nod. $750 dollars is still a good amount that could move them forward if they're being resourceful."

Some were disappointed -- is it 'lame' if everyone is a winner? What if none of the ideas were fully funded? But here is where I think it becomes important to consider the outlying benefits of 5x5. Is 5x5 about entirely funding a project, or is it about starting a discussion? Here, Holsinger-Robinson ties 5x5 back to another Pomegranate project -- ArtPrize.

"(ArtPrize) isn't about choosing the best piece of art," he says. "It's about giving people a reason to participate and open up a conversation. It's the exact same with 5x5. It's an excuse for people to get together and more importantly, have conversation and dialog and share their ideas."

Each presenter spoke to a crowd of over 200 people. Each person in attendance has connections to other people, and everyone has their own unique skill set -- some of these people could be web developers, investors, PR pros. Movers. Shakers. The conversation begins around each idea. Suggestions for improvement, and questions that prompt further clarification and development come naturally. If each person who presented found audience members interested in helping, that connection has its own intrinsic value, regardless of how much money that presenter takes home.

"It's just about getting people moving on something," Holsinger-Robison says. "The idea is not to fully fund -- there maybe some ideas that can be fully funded with $5000, but that's not it. These ideas could be much, much larger things, but they just need time. Money affords people breathing room for time."

Holsinger-Robinson adds, "There was a lot of media and a lot of people there. There was a call to action that if you like one of these ideas, offer some time to get it moving."

The five presenters had been selected based on their ability to articulate an idea. Who had clearly fleshed out their plan? Who had a realistic idea, with a quality description? Holsinger-Robinson cited passion and drive as the reasons for selecting Brian Gerrity of Fire & Knife Supper Club as the winner of the largest share. Gerrity stated in his pitch that he was going to make his idea happen, whether he got the money or not. Fire & Knife is not so different than similar events in other, larger cities. When you sign up to attend, via email, you don't know where the venue is, who the chef is or what you will be served. All you know is when it is and how much it will cost you. In fact, you don't even know if you're invited -- the clandestine supper club is only able to accept a certain number of guests.  If you're fast enough to be one of the lucky ones, you'll find the directions to the mysterious locale in your inbox the day of the event.

"There's definitely a growing food scene in Grand Rapids in particular and West Michigan in general," Holsinger-Robinson says. "The type of stuff he talks about highlighting-- the talents of the chefs, venues, restaurants -- is going to be good for (the city) in a broader sense."

The next 5x5 event, slated for March 29, will follow the same format. The 5x5 event in April will invite the participants from Feb. 24's event back to talk about what progress they've been able to make.

I'm going to use an analogy. It's not a stellar one, but it'll work. If you've ever been to a Battle of the Bands, you know that the winning band gets the recording session package, or the label deal or the prize money or the gift certificate to Guitar Center. But all the bands potentially gain new fans, sell CDs and book new clubs. Maybe I'm thinking about this because I'm sitting in a sound booth at Mulligan's Pub right now, working on a tight deadline, listening to a bunch of artists play an open mic in the hopes of finding other artists like them to relate to and play with. But if 5x5 Night provides a platform for ideas -- a place where those with ideas can flesh out and share ideas the same way these musicians and writers have found a platform to test out new, original material, and if we can find projects and ideas to become involved in the way these audience members find musicians and poets to support -- then nobody really loses. And everybody is a winner. Even if you hate an idea, you're having a conversation about something. Maybe we can agree that that's pretty cool.

J. Bennett Rylah is the Managing Editor of Rapid Growth Media.